QEMM vs VTI
State Street SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, QEMM or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. QEMM led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QEMM is less concentrated, with 20.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | QEMM | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.30% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $62M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.30% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 870 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +22.23%Best | +12.30% |
| 1Y Return | +27.67%Best | +16.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.32% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.59% | +12.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4%Best | 15.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -40.5% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,099 | $17,908Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.4%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 4, 2014 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 5, 2014 to Sep 18, 2026 (12.3 years).
QEMM vs VTI growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 12.3 years both funds cover.
QEMM vs VTI Performance
State Street SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF (QEMM) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QEMM returned +27.67% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, QEMM is up 22.23% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Over three years, QEMM compounded at +19.32% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.59% and +12.36% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.00% annualized vs +4.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 14.4% for QEMM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -40.5% for QEMM and -35.0% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QEMM charges 0.30% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $30 vs $3 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QEMM currently yields 4.30% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 805 holdings in QEMM and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 96.4% and 98.1% of the two funds. That is not enough of VTI to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.
1 positions in common, counted across the 805 positions we hold weights for in QEMM and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 870 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for QEMM (97.5% of the fund), and 27 for QEMM that do not appear in VTI (2.9%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QEMM | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAST:EGEastern Co Sae | 0.03% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QEMM and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QEMM or VTI?
QEMM has an expense ratio of 0.30% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QEMM or VTI?
Over the past year QEMM returned +27.67% vs +16.08% for VTI, so QEMM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), QEMM annualized +4.35% vs +12.00% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QEMM or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 14.4% for QEMM. Worst drawdown: QEMM -40.5% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both QEMM and VTI?
QEMM and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, QEMM or VTI?
QEMM yields 4.30% while VTI yields 1.03%, so QEMM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than QEMM?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. QEMM led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QEMM is less concentrated, with 20.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.